Improvement in horse-clothing



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE JOSEPH O. SIMPSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-CLOTHING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,983, dated May 27,1879 application filed March 3, 1879. i

i To all whom it may concern:

' clothing is such as to be more comfortable than that ordinarily made.

Ordinary blankets for horses are made usually square, and are held inplace by one or more surcingles about the body of the horse and strapsor buckles across the chest. When put on in this way the blanket istightly held in some places and loose in others. It has to be strappedon tight in order to be kept in place, and where the straps occur thehorse is apt to be chafed. He will then rub against the stall to relievehimself of the itching which he feels at the points where the straps orsurcingles are, in. order to get the blanket or covering off, showingthat it is uncomfortable to him.

The blanket or clothing which I propose to use is made to conform to theshape of the horse, the same as clothes are fitted to a man, bymeasurement, and cutting the cloth so that it will fit to theinequalities of the surface.

Figures 1 and 2 are views of my device.

The blanket A is made of any suitable material, cut to fit the shape ofthe horse, and having the extensions B, which may reach down to theknees or any desired distance.

The rear ends of the two sides are permanently joined together, as shownat a, an opening, 0, being left at the proper point through which thetail may project. This opening is left large enough for the tail to bepassed through as the blanket is put on, and a flap, O, is buttoned overit. This rear inner portion of the blanket is lined with oil-silk,rubber, or similar material, so that it will not be likely to be soiled.

On the side of the blanket at that part which covers the body of thehorse are three or more rings, D, and below them on the same side aresecured a corresponding number of straps or hands, E. On the oppositeside of the blanket, but lower down, are a series of rings, and thesestraps lead through them and then up to the rings D, where they aresecured, thus holding the blanket in position. These straps or bands maybe drawn up to suit circumstances, and are always attached to theblankets, thus doing away with all surcingles or independent straps.

On that part of the extension 13 connecting immediately with the body ofthe blanket are the buttons F, which hold the two sides together at thatpoint. The front portion of the blanket has also a row of buttons, G,which, by fitting into corresponding holes, join the two parts togetherat this point, the blanket thus completely enveloping the horse.

On the upper part of the neck is inserted a piece of elastic material,as shown at H, so that the blanket will, even when closely fitted, adaptitself to any position of the neck.

Back of this elastic material H is a strip of be brought back to itsoriginal place when the horse raises his head, thus obviating the dangerto the eyes when the head is lowered. This hood J is buttoned on bymeans of the buttons K, and is fitted to the head as nicely as theblanket to the body. At the nose of the hood is an elastic band, L, towhich the buttons are secured, in order that the hood may be kept sungin place, and at the same time allow motion of the jaws while eating.

It will be seen that blankets or clothing for horses made in the mannerherein described will not be liable to fall or be rubbed off. Althoughmade snug to the form and closefitting, they will not be uncomfortableto the horse. The horse will be completely covered from the knees andhooks to the nose in a closely-fitting garment, so constructed andsecured, however, as to allow freedom of motion to the animal withoutbeing too tight at any particular points. With this covering the horseis thoroughly protected from the cold, and no extra straps or surcinglesare required to keep the blanket in its proper position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The blanket or covering A, having the extensions 13 to fit the foreand hind legs of the animal, front fastenings, F G, and the rings D, andpermanent straps or bands E, and the tail-opening 0, and flap O,substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. The blanket or covering A, with its eX- tensions B, permanentsecuring-bands E, and the front fastenings, F G, in combination with theelastic neck-extension H, substantially as and for the purpose hereindescribed.

